Annulla in the City: Banner sitting

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Banner sitting

July 7 brought news about the terrorist attacks in London. July 8 brought an opportunity to send a message of support to the people of London. In response to the bombings, Art Aid decided to create a banner and have people sign it with messages of solidarity and sympathy. They asked for help with the project.

"What is needed: several volunteers to take shifts throughout the day Saturday and Sunday to watch the banner, make sure it is not taken, and to explain to people (it will be obvious) ... I may be pushing it, but I want to have a piece designed, printed, installed at Ground Zero over the weekend, and shipped to London on Monday. I think time is of the essence."

Four banners (one for each bomb) were produced and hung for signing at the site of the World Trade Center and I spent some time as a banner sitter.

Banner

Reaching up

Tough Guys

Red, white and blue

Visiting from the Dominican Republic

Close to the bottom

Searching for the right words

Teaching the next generation

Fillling up

Visiting from Birmingham, England

Before locating the banner, I spoke to the Port Authority Police (who gave me a bottle of cold water) and entered St. Paul's Church.

I was relieved from my post by representative of the September 11th Families' Association. After banner sitting for hours in the blazing sun, I cooled down with a tall cup of cold coffee and, thanks to a sympathic clerk at Century 21, a generous slathering of after-sun lotion.